April 11, 2024
ERC Advanced Grant for Tim Clausen to study protein folding in muscle
The three-dimensional structure of proteins shapes their function and influences vital cellular processes. Mutations in certain proteins can lead to misfolding and aggregation, threatening organism health. The European Research Council (ERC) now awarded an Advanced Grant to Tim Clausen to further study the mechanisms behind this phenomenon, and the diseases that emerge from them.
Maintaining proper protein structure and function is crucial for cellular health, facilitated by protein quality control mechanisms. These processes, comprising molecular chaperones and degradation pathways, work relentlessly to prevent the accumulation of misfolded proteins. With aging, however, the effectiveness of these mechanisms declines, increasing the risk of protein aggregation and the onset of disorders called proteinopathies.
Tim Clausen, IMP Senior Group Leader, has been awarded an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC) to investigate how protein misfolding leads to disease by focusing on hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (HCM), a common inherited cardiac condition characterised by thickened heart walls and early death. The prestigious grant will support Clausen’s research over the next five years.
Read more in the IMP News here.
IMP Senior Group Leader Tim Clausen. © IMP